Asia leverages on the biologics opportunity

Jumping on the bandwagon, Korea-based Samsung Biologics, in partnership with Quintiles Transnational, invested $30 million in a new venture in 2011. The facility is slated for completion in 2012 with operations scheduled to begin by early 2013. The facilities will be certified by the US FDA and designed to comply with the cGMP standards.

China's capacity in biologics manufacturing is still at an early stage but the government is taking significant steps towards becoming a successful destination for biologics manufacturing. Giving a boost to its biologics manufacturing capacity, China has invested $100 million in AutekBio to construct a world class R&D and manufacturing center in Beijing for international biologics developments. The facility will have combined volumes of bioreactors of up to 20,000 litres in multiple production lines.

Genor Biomanufacturing, one of the leading contract biomanufacturing companies of China, is building a cGMP clinical-scale facility and cGMP commercial facility with international quality system and global manufacturing network in Shanghai. Other companies that are planning to build biologics manufacturing facilities in China with 10,000+litres of bioreactor capacity are Pacific MeinuoKe, Wuxi Pharma, Advanced Biologics and Kanda Biotechnology.

Sharing his thoughts on China's position as biologics manufacturing hub, Dr Wu Ke, founder and president of Shanghai BravoBio, says, "Although China has become the fourth biggest player in pharma manufacturing in the world, its biologics manufacturing, especially manufacturing of genetically-engineered therapeutic proteins, is still at an early stage. However, several conditions, including strong support from government and a large talent pool, ensure a brilliant prospect for China biopharma manufacturing."

Australia currently lacks contract manufacturing activities, but it is estimated that the country spends $62.4 million annually on payments for contract manufacturing activities. Malaysia too is supporting biopharmaceutical industry and is home to two biologics manufacturers, InnoBio and Alpha Biologics.

Singapore too has invested heavily in the biologics sector through subsidiaries of its Economic Development Board over the past decade. Singapore-based A-Bio Pharma is one of Asia's pioneering contract manufacturers for mammalian cell-derived biologics, offering a full range of manufacturing services from process development to GMP production. The GMP manufacturing facility of A-Bio meets both the US FDA and EU EMEA GMP requirements.